FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a coin dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to a
coin mechanism to be installed in an automatic vending machine, etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Formerly, in an automatic vending machine, there was an anxiety that genuine coins
within the body of a coin dispensing apparatus is taken out intentionally by first
throwing counterfeited coins into the machine and then making returning operation
thereof, namely, for so-called money exchange fraud. In addition, in an automatic
vending machine in recent years, many coins are put into it at one time of deal. Accordingly,
it is desirable that a coin dispensing apparatus is provided with a temporary holding
unit to hold coins to be put into it. In this case, it is typical to adopt a structure
in which the temporary holding unit is provided with a holding cylinder to hold coins
therein and a coin positioned at the lowest position is swept by a wiper. However,
there is a case where an article is purchased after a coin was put into the machine,
namely, the coin put into the machine is received, while there is another case where
an article is not purchased and the coin put into the machine is returned by reason
that a desired article has been sold out, a customer changes his mind, or money exchange
fraud is conducted. Accordingly, a sorting mechanism, which sores coins to coin receiving
cylinders to be provided every kind of coin or an returning window, becomes necessary
to be provided under the holding unit.
[0003] Accordingly, there occurs a problem that a sorting mechanism must be further provided
under the temporary holding cylinder, which requires to make the coin dispensing apparatus
larger in the up-and-down direction. In order to solve this problem. Japanese patent
application Laid-open No.8-147514 discloses a conventional coin dispensing apparatus
comprising a coin sorting unit which discriminates genuineness of coins put into it,
an allotting unit which allots genuine coins and counterfeited coins discriminated
by the coin sorting unit to a receiving passage and a returning passage, respectively,
and a plurality of change storing cylinders in which the coins allotted to the receiving
passage are stored every coin kind, wherein the apparatus is provided with a holding
cylinder which is positioned between the receiving passage and the change storing
cylinders and holds the coins allotted to the receiving passage, and a coin-sweeping
unit which sweeps the coins discharged from the holding cylinder, when an article
is sold, to the change storing cylinders and, when returned, to the returning passage.
[0004] And, the holding tube of the coin dispensing apparatus comprises an entrance for
coin which is formed midway in its up-and-down direction, a lifting mechanism which
lifts coins held at the lower part of the holding cylinder, and a discharging mechanism
which discharges the coin lifted by the lifting mechanism.
[0005] In the conventional coin dispensing apparatus, however, there are disadvantages in
that its structure becomes complicated, the fabrication or working efficiency and
the production cost is high, since the lifting mechanism must be provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a coin dispensing apparatus
which is simple in structure.
[0007] It is a further object of the invention to provide a coin dispensing apparatus which
is low in the production cost.
[0008] According to the first aspect of the invention, a coin dispensing apparatus, comprises:
an inserting aperture, provided at an upper part of a main body, for receiving coins
to be inserted thereinto; a sorting unit comprising a coin discriminating device for
discriminating genuineness of coins inserted into the inserting aperture, the sorting
unit sorting the coins discriminated in the coin discriminating device;
a coin storing unit, located under the sorting unit, for storing the coins sorted
in the sorting unit by separating the coins in kinds of the coins;
a holding unit, provided between the coin storing unit and the sorting unit, for temporally
holding the coins sorted in the sorting unit; and
a coin repayment unit, provided at a lower part of the main body, for returning the
coins to a customer.
[0009] In accordance with a coin dispensing apparatus as defined above, the holding unit
can be structured simple without using a lifting mechanism.
[0010] According to the second aspect of the invention, a coin dispensing apparatus, comprises:
an inserting aperture, provided at an upper part of a main body, for receiving coins
to be inserted thereinto; a sorting unit comprising a coin discriminating device for
discriminating genuineness of coins inserted into the inserting aperture, the sorting
unit sorting the coins discriminated in the coin discriminating device;
a holding unit for temporally holding the coins sorted in the sorting unit;
a coin storing unit provided under the holding unit; and a coin repayment unit, provided
at a lower part of the main body, for returning the coins to a customer;
wherein the coin dispensing apparatus has a holding cylinder provided in the holding
unit for temporally holding the coins, a wiper provided at a lower part of the holding
cylinder for sweeping the coins, and a sorting device provided under the viper for
sorting the coins to the coin storing unit or the coin repayment unit.
[0011] In the preferred embodiment, the coin dispensing apparatus may have a coin storing
passage connected with the coin storing unit and a repayment passage connected with
the coin repayment unit, and a damper provided in the sorting device for switching
the coin storing passage and the repayment passage.
[0012] In the preferred embodiment, the coins may be more than one kind.
[0013] In accordance with a coin dispensing apparatus as defined above, since the apparatus
has a structure that the coin storing passage and the repayment passage, which are
provided under the wiper and being indispensable structure, are switched by the damper,
it becomes unnecessary to provide a lifting unit additionally, so that coins can be
sorted to the coin storing unit or the coin repayment unit without the need to make
the coin dispensing apparatus larger.
[0014] According to the third aspect of the invention, a coin dispensing apparatus, comprises:
an inserting aperture, provided at an upper part of a main body, for receiving coins
to be inserted thereinto;
a sorting unit comprising a coin discriminating device for discriminating genuineness
of coins inserted into the inserting aperture, the sorting unit sorting the coins
discriminated in the coin discriminating device;
a holding unit for temporally holding the coins sorted in the sorting unit;
a coin storing unit provided under the holding unit; and a coin repayment unit, provided
at a lower part of the main body, for returning the coins;
wherein the coin dispensing apparatus has a holding cylinder provided in the holding
unit for temporally holding the coins, a wiper provided at a lower part of the holding
cylinder for sweeping the coins and a receiving member provided near the wiper for
sorting the coins to the coin storing unit or the coin repayment unit by operation
with or without being linked to the wiper.
[0015] In the preferred embodiment, operation of the receipt member may be linked with the
viper in storing coins in the coin storing unit, and may not be linked with the wiper
in sweeping coins to the coin repayment unit. In the preferred embodiment, the coins
may be more than one kind.
[0016] In accordance with a coin dispensing apparatus as defined above, since the receiving
member which operates in linkage with the wiper or individually, coins can be sorted
to the coin storing unit or the coin repayment unit without making the coin dispensing
apparatus larger.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The invention will be described in more detail in conjunction with the appended drawings,
wherein;
FIG.1 is a front view of a coin dispensing apparatus embodying the invention;
FIG.2 is an exploded perspective view of the holding unit;
FIG.3 shows the structure of the drive system to make the wiper drive.
FIG.4 is a sectional side view showing the holding unit;
FIG.5 is a sectional side view showing the holding unit at the time of coin receiving;
FIG.6 is a sectional side view showing the holding unit at the time of coin returning;
FIG.7 is a planar view of the holding unit;
FIG.8 is a view taken on line A-A of FIG.7;
FIG.9 is a sectional rear view showing the vicinity of the receiving member of the
holding unit;
FIG.10 is a perspective view of the receiving member;
FIG.11 is a partly exploded perspective view of the receiving member;
FIG.12 is a perspective view of the receiving member when being fabricated;
FIG.13 is a sectional side view of the holding unit when coins are stored in the coin
storing unit; and
FIG.14 is a sectional side view of the holding unit when coins are swept to the coin
repayment unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] A first preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in details below,
referring to the drawings.
[0019] In FIG.1, reference numeral 1 is the body of a coin dispensing apparatus to be included
in an automatic vending machine etc., and in its upper part, a coin inserting aperture
2 into which coins are put is provided. The apparatus comprises a sorting unit 4 which
has a coin discriminating device to discriminates genuineness and the kind of a coin
to be put into it through the inserting aperture 2, namely, plural magnetic sensors
40 and sorts the coin 3 thus discriminated, and a holding unit 5 which is provided
under the sorting unit 4 and temporally holds the genuine money (coins 3) sorted by
the sorting unit 4, a coin storing unit 6 which is provided under the holding unit
5, comprises plural storing cylinders 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D and stores change for sale
of an article, and a coin repayment unit 7, being provided in the lower part of the
body of the coin dispensing apparatus, from which the coin 3 is returned when the
coins 3 is discriminated as an imitation by the sorting unit 4 or when returning operation
is made by a customer. Furthermore, a counterfeited coin returning passage (not shown)
which connects the sorting unit 4 and the coin repayment unit 7 is provided at the
back side of the coin dispensing apparatus.
[0020] Also, the magnetic sensors 40 of the sorting unit 4 are positioned facing a coin
passage 41 of sorting unit where the coin put into the unit through the inserting
aperture 2 passes. It detects the shape, thickness etc. of the coins. Further, the
magnetic sensors 40 are connected with a control device (not shown) composed of microcomputer,
in which genuineness and kind of coins are discriminated by comparing data operated
from the result detected by the magnetic sensors 40 with a reference data stored therein.
In accordance with this discrimination, the operation of various gates mentioned later
is controlled.
[0021] The sorting unit 4 comprises a genuineness sorting gate 42 facing the lower end of
the coin passage 41 of sorting unit, and succeeding gate group for sorting coins every
coin kind. The gate group is composed of four gates, namely, a first gate 43, a second
gate 44, a third gate 45 and a forth gate 46.
[0022] The genuineness sorting gate 42 is of a type that rotates, directing the valve upwards,
in the front-and-back direction (orthogonal direction to the surface of the drawing
sheet), and is operated by a solenoid not shown. When the coins are discriminated
as genuine, it sorts the coins every coin kind to each coin-kind sorting gate 43,
44, 45 and 46, and when coins are discriminated as imitation, it guides them to the
coin repayment unit 7.
[0023] Also, the holding unit 5 comprises a plurality of holding tubes 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D
which are provided every coin kind (500 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen and 100 yen from the left)
to receive the genuine coins sorted at the sorting unit 4, and a sorting device 9
which is provided at the lower part of the respective holding tubes 8A, 8B, 8C and
8D, and sweeps the coins at the lowest position in the holding cylinder 8, and sorts
the coins swept to the coin storing unit 6 or the coin repayment unit 7.
[0024] Like this, since the apparatus comprises the holding unit 5 between the coin storing
unit 6 and the sorting unit 4, and the coins have already been sorted every coin kind
at the holding unit 5, it can return, in the lump, the coins held temporally in the
holding unit 5.
[0025] Furthermore, 10 is a coin storing cylinder for 10 yen which stores most popularly
used 10 yen as change.
[0026] The sorting device 9 of the holding unit 5 in this invention will be explained referring
to the drawing. The sorting device 9 comprises a receiving member 11 which supports
the coin 3 at the lowest position in the holding cylinder 8, a wiper 12 which is provided
between the receiving member 11 and the holding cylinder 8 and draw out the coin 3
at the lowest position, a coin storing passage 13 which introduces the coin 3 drawn
out by the wiper 12 into the coin storing cylinder 6, a repayment passage 14 which
introduces the coin 3 into the coin repayment unit 7, and a guide shoot 15 which divides
between the repayment passage 14 and the coin storing passage 13.
[0027] Also, the wiper 12 is composed of a coin catching plate 16 having holes 16A which
are formed corresponding to the respective holding cylinders 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D, have
larger diameter than the inner diameter of the holding cylinder 8, and catch the coin
3. The coin catching plate 16 has a thickness thinner than that of one coin. Under
the hole 16A of the coin catching plate 16, slope portion 16B which slants towards
a direction for the coins to be swept.
[0028] Further, on the undersurface of the coin catching plate 16, a slide groove 16C which
extends in the right and left direction is formed. In the slide groove 16C, a projection
18A of a rotary pulley 18, which protrudes upwards and is movable in the right-and-left
direction, is located.
[0029] A pulley gear 19 is provided at the lower part of the rotary pulley 18, and under
the coin catching plate 16, a plate 20 in which a straight bevel gear rack 20A engaging
with the pulley gear 19 is located.
[0030] Also, at one end of the plate 20, a rectangular hole 20B which extends in the before
and behind direction is formed. In the rectangular hole 20B, a guide bar 21A of a
drive gear 21 is located to slide the plate 20 in the right and left direction.
[0031] Furthermore, the drive gear 21 is driven via a first transmission gear 22, a second
transmission gear 23 by an electric motor 24. 24A is a pinion gear fixed to the rotary
shaft of the electric motor 24. Driving system is composed of these components.
[0032] Further, under the coin catching plate 16, a slope shoot 26, which forms a take-in
passage 25 for introducing the coins 3 swept to the repayment passage 14 or the coin
receipt passage 13, is provided. And, in the slope shoot 26, diaphragms 27, 27 ···
which divide the take-in passage is provided, and a notch 27A is formed in one of
the diaphragms 27, 27 ···.
[0033] Also, at the tip of the guide shoot 15, a damper 29 of the sorting device 9 is located.
[0034] The damper 29 has a shape that the upper part is sharpened and is able to rotate
around a rotation shaft 29A. Further, a fitting shaft 29B is provided above the rotating
shaft 29A with which an arm 31 of a solenoid 30 is connected. Furthermore, 30A is
a force-giving spring which gives an arm 31 a force towards the direction to push
out the arm..
[0035] Further, the solenoid 30 is located under the slope shoot 26, and the arm 31 connected
with the solenoid 30 passes trough the notch 27A formed in the diaphragm 27.
[0036] Further, in the lower part of the slope shoot 26, a concave portion 26A, in which
the chip of the damper 29 is located, is formed, and in the lower part of the receiving
member 11, too, a concave portion 11A is formed to receive the tip of the damper 29.
[0037] Now, the operation of the coin dispensing apparatus of this embodiment structured
as mentioned in the above will be explained.
[0038] First, coins 3 put into the apparatus from the coin inserting aperture 2 are sorted
in the sorting unit 4 as to genuineness and kind of coin, introduced to the holding
cylinders 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D of the holding unit 5 which are provided every coin kind,
and there genuine coins are placed on the coin receiving member 11.
[0039] Furthermore, counterfeited coins are returned through the counterfeited coin returning
passage to the coin repayment unit 7.
[0040] When an article is sold in a state that the coins are being held within the holding
cylinder 8, as shown in FIG.3 to FIG.5, the electric motor 24 starts driving and rotates
the drive gear 21 via the first transmission gear 22 and the second transmission gear
23. At this time, since the guide bar 21A is located in the rectangular hole 20B of
the plate 20, the plate 20 moves to the right and left direction and the straight
bevel gear rack 20A makes the pulley gear 19 rotate, by which the rotary pulley 18
is rotated.
[0041] When the rotary pulley 18 rotates, the pulley-projection 18A of the rotary pulley
18 slides sideways along the sliding groove 16C of the coin catching plate 16, and
makes the coin catching plate 16 slide forwards.
[0042] Because of this, the coins 3 held in the holding cylinder 8 leave the hole 16A and
are swept away to the sweep-away direction, namely, to the back.
[0043] At this time, the solenoid 30 is off, and the damper 29 of the sorting device 9 is
given a force backward by the force-giving spring 30A. Accordingly, the damper 29
blocks the repayment passage 14, and the coins 3 swept are introduced via the coin
storing passage 13 into the coin storing unit 6
[0044] Also, in case that an returning operation is made by a customer in a state that the
coins 3 are placed on the receiving member 11, the solenoid 30 is switched on, and
the arm 31 is drawn against the force by the force-giving spring 30A. With this movement,
the damper 29 blocks the coin storing passage 13, so that the coins 3 are swept via
the repayment passage 14 to the coin repayment unit 7.
[0045] Since the apparatus is structured as mentioned in the above, even if the coins 3
can not be discriminated as imitation by the sorting unit 4, the same coins 3 as those
put into the apparatus are returned. Therefore, money exchange fraud, namely, that
genuine coins within the body of the cash dispensing apparatus are stolen by first
putting into and next return from the apparatus, can be prevented.
[0046] As mentioned in details above, according to the invention, the holding unit of simple
structure can be made without using a lifting mechanism etc., so that rise in cost,
machine trouble etc. can be prevented to the utmost.
[0047] Also, since such structure that the coin storing passage and the repayment passage,
both being indispensable structure, are switched by the damper provided under the
wiper, it becomes unnecessary to provide additionally a lifting apparatus etc., so
that coins can be sorted to the coin storing unit or the coin repayment unit without
making the coin dispensing apparatus larger.
[0048] Accordingly, an apparatus, which is simple in structure and low in cost and prevents
money exchange fraud, can be provided.
[0049] Next, another embodiment according to this invention will be described. The explanation
on the structure of the apparatus other than that of a sort-and-take-out device of
the holding unit is omitted because the structure is same as those of the first embodiment
described above.
[0050] Referring to the drawings, the sort-and-take-out device 9B of the holding unit 5
in this second embodiment is explained below.
[0051] The sort-and-take-out device 9B comprises a receipt-for-storing member 51 which supports
a coin 3 at the lowest position in the holding cylinder 8, a wiper 52 which is provided
between the receipt-for-storing member 51 and the holding tube 8, and takes out the
coin 3 at the lowest position, a coin storing passage 53 which introduces the coin
3 taken out by the wiper 52 into the coin storing unit 6, a repayment passage 54 which
introduces the coin 3 into the coin repayment unit 7, and a guide shoot 55 which divides
between the repayment passage 54 and the coin storing passage 53.
[0052] Also, the wiper 52 comprises a coin catching plate 56, being formed thinner than
the thickness of one coin, which has holes 56A corresponding to the respective holding
cylinders 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D, has larger diameter than the inner diameter of the holding
cylinder 8, and in which the coin 3 is located, and a moving member 57 connected with
the coin catching plate 56.
[0053] In this coin catching plate 56, a concave portion 56B and a slide groove 56C, which
extends in the right and left direction, is formed. Further, on the upper surface
of the moving member 57, a concave portion 57A is formed at a position corresponding
to the concave portion 56B.
[0054] Also, in the slide groove 56C of the coin catching plate 56, a guide bar 58B, which
protrudes on the undersurface of a rotary pulley 58A of a driving system 58 comprising
an electric motor not shown etc, is located in a state being able to slide.
[0055] Because of this, when the rotary pulley 58A rotates, the wiper 52 slides in the before
and behind direction.
[0056] Further, as shown in FIG.5 to FIG.7, in the concave portion 56B of the coin catching
plate 56, a receiving member (hereinafter called receiving plate) 59 on which the
coin 3 taken out is located. The receiving plate 59 comprises a coin receiving part
59A which receives the coin, a stopping pole 59B provided vertically on a rear part
of the coin receiving part 59A, and a fitting plate 60 which is provided at the center
portion of the coin receiving part 59A and protrudes downward.
[0057] Furthermore, the fitting plate 60 has elasticity against the coin receiving part
59A.
[0058] Also, a blocking plate 61, which is formed movable in the right and left direction
by a solenoid 63, is provided on the upper surface of the front part of the sort-and-take-out
device 9B, namely, in front of the holding cylinder 8. The blocking plate 61 is supported
by a supporting plate 62 protruded on the sort-and-take-out device 9B. Furthermore,
64 is a force-giving spring which gives a force to one direction when the solenoid
63 is off.
[0059] And, a passage 61A, in which the stopping pole 59B of the receiving plate 59 can
pass, is formed at a part of the blocking plate 21, and when the solenoid 63 is off,
the force-giving spring 64 makes the blocking plate 61 slide to move, by which the
stopping pole 59B becomes possible to pass the passage 61A. Also, when the solenoid
63 is on, the blocking plate 61 slides to move against the force of the force-giving
spring 64, thereby relative position between the stopping pole 59B and the passage
61A being changed, so that the stopping pole 59B hits the blocking plate 61 and becomes
unable to slide further.
[0060] In operation of the coin dispensing apparatus in the second embodiment, first, as
is the case with the first embodiment, coins 3 put into the apparatus through the
coin inserting aperture 2 are sorted at the sorting unit 4 as to genuineness and kind
of coin, and introduced to the holding cylinders 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D of the holding
unit 5 every coin kind, and are placed on the receipt-for-storing member 11.
[0061] When an article is sold under the state, the solenoid 63 is turned off, and positions
of the passage 61A of the blocking plate 61 and the stopping pole 59B coincides with
each other by the force of the force-giving spring 64. In this state, when the rotating
pulley 58A of the drive system 58 rotates, the guide bar 58B slides in the right and
left direction, by which the wiper 52 moves forward, namely, to the direction shown
with arrow B in FIG.2.
[0062] At this time, the projection 60A of the fitting plate 60 of the receiving plate 59
is engaged with the concave portion 57A on the upper surface of the moving member
57, and the passage 61A of the blocking plate 61 allows insertion therein of the stopping
pole 59B of the receiving plate 59, so that the receiving plate 59 also moves, along
with the movement of the wiper 52, to arrow B direction in FIG.2, namely, towards
the front.
[0063] Accordingly, the coins at the lowest position within the holding tube 8, as shown
by an arrow in FIG.8, is introduced into the coin storing passage 53 and stored in
the predetermined coin storing unit 6.
[0064] Also, in case that an returning operation is made by a customer, solenoid 63 is switched
on, and relative position between the passage 61A of the blocking plate 61 and the
stopping pole 59B of the coin receiving member changes. Under the state, when the
rotary pulley 18A of the drive system 58 rotates, the guide bar 58B slides to the
right and left direction and the wiper 52 moves forwards.
[0065] With the movement of the wiper 52, the receiving plate 59 also moves forwards, but
the blocking plate 61 and the stopping pole 59B of the receiving plate 59 hit with
each other and the receiving plate 59 can not move further, so that the coin receiving
part 59A of the receiving plate 59 becomes located under the hole 56A of the coin
catching plate 56 which has completed the movement. Accordingly, the coins swept becomes
a state being placed on the coin receiving part 59A.
[0066] In this state, the pulley 58A is rotated at 180 degrees When the rotary pulley 58A
of the drive system 58 further rotates, the viper 58A returns again to the inner side.
At this time, the coin 3 is pushed out towards the direction of the repayment passage
54 because the coin 3 swept has been placed on the coin receiving part 59A of the
receiving plate 59.
[0067] Accordingly, at first, the coin 3 at the lowest position within the holding cylinder
8 is placed on the coin receiving part 59A of the receiving plate 59, and as shown
with an arrow in Fig.9, is introduced into the repayment passage 54, and swept to
the repayment unit 7. Since the apparatus is structured as mentioned above, even if
counterfeited coins 3 put into the apparatus can not be discriminated as imitation
in the sorting unit 4, the same coins 3 are returned. Therefore, money exchange fraud,
namely, that genuine coins 3 within the body of a cash dispensing machine are taken
out by first putting the coins 3 into the apparatus and then making returning operation,
can be prevented.
[0068] As mentioned in details above, according to the invention, since the receiving plate,
which operates in linkage with the wiper or individually, is provided near the wiper,
coins can be sorted to the coin storing unit or the coin repayment unit without necessity
to make the coin dispensing apparatus larger,.
[0069] Accordingly, an apparatus, which is simple in structure and low in cost and can prevent
money exchange fraud, can be provided.
[0070] As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit
of essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative
and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims
rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within meets
and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such meets and bounds are therefore intended
to be embraced by the claims.
[0071] The features disclosed in the foregoing description, in the claims and/or in the
accompanying drawings may, both separately and in any combination thereof, be material
for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.